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Because of his love and appreciation for history and cultures of all kinds he can pick up a book on almost any subject and devour it. An avid traveler Philip has pursued his genealogical research to his family roots in Eastern Europe locating the old homestead, the local church and long lost cemeteries. Karen Martin says "Over the past few years Philip has discovered the world of the internet. His new addiction became 'Google.' He will sit for hours researching with the world at his finger tips." Philip was born and raised in Maspeth, Queens. While in St. Croix he married Agneta and they have two children Susan and Mette. Susan now lives in Las Vegas and Mette lives in Farson, Wyoming.
He is an active member of the Genealogy Workshop, has assisted with registration at the annual Roots seminars and traveled with Society members to Salt Lake City. He also represents the Society at the quarterly meetings of the Association of Suffolk County Historical Societies. Cathi Horowitz says “Philip was instrumental in assisting my mother to trace her family’s journey through Ellis Island. The satisfaction my mother received from this cannot be over stated. He is always incredibly generous in providing reading materials and books which are used in researching our education programs. His enthusiasm for the subject is always a joy.” Pat Ernst remembers "taking a Greenlawn Library trip, a few years ago, with Philip and Artie (who we did not know at the time) and my friend Nancy and I, sat with them at lunch. One of them, Philip or Artie, carried his own pepper grinder, and they bought a bottle of wine for the table. We enjoyed their company." We all wish Philip good luck in his new adventures in the “Cowboy State” where as he says he will “begin another chapter”. “Snoopy Behr” we will all miss you.
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We
will miss Philip’s smile and good humor. His wonderful stories of life in St.
Croix and living and managing a Seiko watch factory in Guam often kept us in
stitches. 
In
1978 Philip moved to Greenlawn. He became a member of Huntington
Historical Society in 1986. He has always chipped in around the Society,
helping in the office with mailings and other duties, manning the gate at our
events, and volunteering in the archives. He was honored as Volunteer of the
Year in 1993 and served on the Board of Trustees from 1995 to 2001. Tom Ernst
remembers " how Philip could fold letters, stuff them into their envelopes
and talk continuously, never losing the thread of his story or missing an
envelope." 
